A Magpie story (© 2008 Eileen Baker)

During the years of walking a rocky path during my son’s illness I began to notice magpies. Actually it goes back to just before then; two turtle doves used to live in a tree in our house’s garden and they would come back every year. One year, the year before we left that house, they went away and magpies came instead, but I didn’t especially notice them then, just wondered why the turtle doves had gone away and magpies had replaced them.

Often, I would notice just one on its own, in a field, by a roadside, flying into or out of a tree – according to where I happened to glance.

So I would think, oh there we are then, more sorrow.

Please let me have two magpies Lord, I would think.

But often, it would be one.

That is to say I would look up, or around or over there and I would see one magpie.

When I was in St. James’ Hospital looking after my son, his window overlooked a building with a nice clock tower façade near the St. James’ Church on the grounds.

Often, I would see one magpie standing on that tower and I would think to myself: oh sorrow, I know this.

I would think of the Mary Statue in the small church of Notre Dame in Mechelen, Belgium which displays St. Mary in such great sorrow. In her heart are seven, full sized swords; it is such a powerful image that I have never forgotten it and have it with me always. It depicts the greatest sorrow and suffering of earth life and the betrayal of her and her son. Sorrow, such great sorrow.
So I recognised this sorrow and sought solace with Mary.

Then one day, I went to Mass in the St. James’ Church – as I did when possible. The sermon was about Sorrow. Joy comes out of Sorrow. It was from St. John’s gospel "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy." (John 16.20). The priest, Kelvin, pointed out that we actually have no idea what ‘joy’ means; that joy is a level of being and of feeling that is beyond earthly perceived happiness. Joy is reached only through suffering and sorrow and it is a profound feeling far beyond this worldly perception of ‘joy’.

It was speaking to me of course. I went back to the hospital room and sat down in my usual chair by the window. I looked up at the clock tower and I saw two magpies.

Earth logic would call that ‘co-incidence’ but spiritual logic tells me that the co incidents of many years of pondering, wondering and searching were answered to me that very day.